Counterfeiting is not a new phenomenon. Phillips (2005) describes French stoppers for amphorae of wine dating back to 27BC that bore a counterfeit seal intended to pass off local wine as a more expensive Roman import. The Roman philosopher and military commander, Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) records how counterfeit coins were desirable items amongst contemporary collectors, with good examples being purchased for several times their face value (Barry, .; Chen et al. 2005). Counterfeiting of goods and currency, therefore, appears to have been used to generate profit and avoid taxation for almost as long as market and.
